Mitt Romney picks Snooki; Ann opens up about scantily clad George Bush

Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, said Friday that he prefers Snooki over Honey Boo Boo because of her “spark-plug personality,” wants actor Gene Hackman to play him in a movie and that he wears “as little as possible” to bed.

His wife, Ann, also got in on the act, relaying the story about how during a visit to the White House she walked in on then-president George W. Bush getting a massage.

“We had the unbelievable pleasure of spending the night at the White House, and the next morning I was, like, exploring everywhere,” Mrs. Romney said during a joint appearance with her husband on “Live with Kelly and Michael” with Kelly Ripa and her new co-host Michael Strahan, which will air on Tuesday.

“And I was supposed to be at meetings and Mitt was, like, ’Ann, you’re supposed to go,’ and I said ’No, I’m exploring.’ I went into one door — I was with Anita Perry, by the way. I’ll put the blame on her. And Anita and I were, like, we wonder what’s behind this door? It was George Bush having a massage.”

“He was covered up, but I was so embarrassed that the next time I did see him, I didn’t know what I was going to say to him. We were going down the elevator from the White House going to an event together, and I walked up to the elevator and am just like blushing, blushing, blushing, and he looks at me and he winks as he does and says, ’I look pretty good, don’t I?’”

The interview offered a lighthearted moment during a week in which Mr. Romney has blasted away at the Obama administration’s response to the assaults on the diplomatic posts in the Middle East, which left Libyan Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three staffers dead.

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were scheduled to attend the return of the bodies at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

The Romneys, meanwhile, were in New York, fielding questions from Ms. Ripa and Mr. Strahan, the former New York Giants football player who asked Ann: “What does Mitt wear to bed?”

Mr. Romney responded, “I hear the best answer is as little as possible.”

Who would he pick to play himself in a movie? “For me my favorite actor is Gene Hackman, so I’d like Gene Hackman.” How about his wife? “Maybe Michelle Pfeiffer,” he said.

Mr. Strahan later asked, “OK, the most serious question of all? Honey Boo Boo or Snooki?”

Mr. Romney said, “I’m kind of a Snooki fan.”

“Look how tiny she’s gotten,” he said. “She’s lost weight. She’s energetic. Just her spark-plug personality is kind of fun.”